Health Tips - Thalassemia Hemoglobin

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Alpha thalassemia caused by inheriting two defective genes for producing health alpha chains is a very rare fatal disorder. A less severe form produces symptoms that are similar to beta thalassemia major. Estimates of the prevalence of thalassemia vary, but thalassemia trait appears to be fairly common among people from the Mediterranean region the Middle East, or South-east Asia. Sickle cell anemia is another inherited disorder that affects hemoglobin. Once again it’s necessary to look a little more closely at this vital protein.